KEEPING LIVESTOCK 



549 



The acres of land cultivated by each horse depends on the size of the 

 horse, character of farming, the type of soil and the topography of the land. 

 In England, two horses are generally required for 80 acres of light, sandy 

 soil or 60 acres of heavy, clay soil. In the United States, there is about 

 one horse or mule of working age to each 30 acres of improved land. For- 

 merly, many oxen were kept for work, but these have been largely replaced 

 by the horse and mule because of their more rapid movements and conse- 

 quent greater efficiency. The draft of the ox is larger in proportion to his 

 weight, but his slowness has caused his displacement with the increase in 

 the value of human labor. 



With the introduction of cotton and silk, the value of animal products 

 as sources of clothing decreased relatively. The value of leather, wool and 



Utilizing Woodland for Pasture. 1 



hair is very large, however, and plays an important part in the clothing 

 of the human race. 



Animals Make Use of Land Otherwise Unproductive. — According to 

 the last census, only about one-half of the farm area in the United States 

 was improved land, and only about two-thirds of the improved land was in 

 farm crops, including meadows. The other one-third, together with 

 considerable of the unimproved portion, is utilized as pasture for animals. 

 On most farms there are areas more or less extensive which may be steep, 

 stony, partly wooded, undrained or otherwise unprofitable for cultivated 

 crops, that may be utilized for grazing purposes. 



Animals Utilize Crops that would be Wholly or Partly Wasted. — The 

 straw of the cereals, the stover of corn, have little value on most farms 

 except as ro ughage and bedding for livestock. Low grades of hay, damaged 



1 Courtesy of E. K. Hibshmann, Pennsylvania State College. 



